Sources revealed to the Cuban Baseball Digest that Orioles left-hander Naykel Cruz who is now be represented by Gladys Alonso of A&F Sports and has decided not to play for Cuba in the upcoming World Baseball Classic shortly after making his debut in the Dominican Summer League.
I reached to Alonso for a comment about the situation and she had this to say,” Any player I represent will not play for Cuba, as a child of Cuban exiles I will not be complicit in helping the Cuban Federation or government in any way until the country is free and democratic. “
During his four seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, Cruz posted a 4.18 ERA with a strikeout and walk rates of 19.1% and 15.4%, Armed with 94-95 fastball from the left side and a decent array of breaking pitches Cruz has all the tools to make it too the big leagues.
Cruz was part of Cuba’s WBC team in 2023 and has seen professional action in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with the Piratas de Campeche where he had an 0-2 record and 9.82 earned run average in seven appearances, one as a starter. In the DOSL he has a 3-1 mark and 2.63 ERA in also seven appearances.
Cubans that have said no to Cuba for the WBC:
Cesar Prieto IF (St. Louis Cardinals)
Dairon Blanco OF (Kansas City Royals)
Adrián Morejon LHP (San Diego Padres)
Luis Robert Jr OF (Chicago White Sox)
Edgar Quero C (Chicago White Sox)
Cionel Pérez LHP (Baltimore Orioles)
Yandy Díaz 1B (Tampa Bay Rays)
Raisel Iglesias RHP (Atlanta Braves)
Jorge Soler OF (Los Angeles Angels)
Aroldis Chapman LHP (Boston Red Sox)